Harness



J. C. E. K UHLER.

HARNESS. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 13,1919.

Patented Sept. 27,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. C. E. KOH LER.

HARNESS. APPLICATIVON FILED NOV. 13. m9. 1,392,015. PatentedSept. 27, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" sci-1A1: Caro E I.KoHLER,orfwofiiazicnfr, NEAavn nE, pas es sta rs;

To all ham it cone era ;Be,:it known: that I, JOHAN c CAroiELI nesses, ,the straps or, collars of which are generally so positionedas not to admit of the free :movementbof the shoulders, fore legs and other parts of the body of the horse or other animal besides chafing such parts which move relative'fto' the rest of the 2 0 body -It; is obvious that the full tractive power of the animal will not be developed under these conditions, and'my improved harness is designed to 'admitof" the free movement of the animaland themaximum pulling force being exerted, by so arranging the straps, et cetera, that theforce will be exerted by the strongest portionsjof the animals body while" at the same time insur ing that those-limbs or parts which, move relatively to the rest of the body; shall not have straps rubbingagainst them and chafingthe c v The improved harness may beiusedwith slight modifications for' either a single animal, working alone or, for two or more animals abreast or in tandem. Itis compara tively light in weight, especially when designed for light work, inwhi'ch case it con c sists mainly of straps; chains or other resillentconnections taking the place of some or all ofthe straps when "the harness'is used for the heavier forms ofwork.

Y It is designed so as, to embrace and bring int o usethe greatest efi'ective portion of the animals body and is arranged to give the animal greater controlof the load both when pulling, -and, inthe heavierjclass of work, when backing.

c l It, is, easily usted,;vquickly put on and veryefiexible, p r p {Che invention'is' illustrated in a preferred fo m; n '5 th acc mp yi g drawings: i w c a c aqEiglllTfiz-lz@1103551 a side; bier-Mien. i feone '5 Specification of Letters Patent,

, lpplication'lfiled-November 13, 1919. serial No. 337,698. 7 horse equipped with the of; my invention. a e

sourn AIRiCA.

; lnmrzss.

Patnte'd S ept, 2 7 19121.

double Fig; 2 is a plan view of the-type of 11-51%- ness shown in, Fig." 1

Fig. 3 shows a side elevationgyof equ pped with a 'form .ofsthe invention used asslngleharnessforheavy draftwork.

spread out, to elucidate the description thereof, i

"In Figs. 1 and, 2,, in which, the double harness type of my invention, is illustrated, I provide astrappor the like-1 which passes .overthe lower topportion=ofzthe neck of the animal forward of the withers. This strapis suitably fixedon the underside as as by sewing or rive ting',--to a pair ,of pads or pieces 2, 3,which:bear' againstthesides of theneck at the top, These pads or pieces 2, 3,are spaoed apart sufliciently to "insure that they shall not causediscornfort to the scrufi' gor upper portion of; the animals neck.

A pair of rings or loops 4:, 5, are arranged between the strap 1 and'the pads or pieces 2, 3, and are, kepthingedly in position on and are fixed to the bridlepr headpiece 7 which may be of any ordinaryor suitable said pads or pieces,2,-;3, by ,thegaforesaid 7 strap ,1. The rings or loops 75, serve to guide the reins 6 which pass through; them construction, the is one illustrated in Fig, "1 i being ofthe typefin; whicha nose piece or arch-shaped piece 8, which fits over the nose of the animal, isused instead o1"; the usual-bit. I h I w W Thestrap 1 carries, or has'attached, to it, rings or loops 9, 10, one at either; side, to which are. secured strapsor their equivalentf 11, l2, which pass around the neck of the animal and carry further rings 13,. 14 which engagein the hooks 1. .316,'of a member 17, suitably attachedg as bythe strip 18, to a chest and underbojdy straphaving at its forward end a pad or; piece lgwhieh rests against the frontofthe chest of the animal.

serves,;-by resting on the hooks 15, 16,over

t e.- end a h eofyto p fer ete dee e d m- The hooks 15; 16, of the member 17 are in the e s m n o e r nes .3, lefr m ei-d he ke 4 a d als er s a th me um i0 1 ar i the crossbar- 21 through hook, 22 towhich r ibar2la tache th ef ff h vehicle 23 shownin dotted lines in 1 v a Ihe.:.m.e ber,-l,7 isms sh wnr' ooped at v its lower end as indicated at 24-see ,Fig. 2which loop allows of its attachment to a strap or piece 25. This strap 25 is bifun cated as shownor it may be formed in two pieces-in its upper portion to adaptit to the shape of the chest or fore part of the animal. This strap or piece 25 is fixed to a pad or piece 26 at its lower end and carries a further member 27 having a pair of hooks 28, 29, of the shape of 'ram s horns;

straps 33, 35, depend from and are'securedto rings'37, 38 respectively, which rings are in turn secured to and carried by straps 39, 40 (one at either side of the animal), which are attached at their other ends to the rings 9, 10 on the strap 1, and'straps'41, 42, (one at either side of the animal) which are secured to a common ring 43 positioned on the rear portion of the back of the animal. The straps 34, 36 are connected to draft rings 44, 45, to which rings the traces 46, 47, or means for attaching the animal to the swingle bars of the vehicle are fixed.

Rings 44 and 37 are connected by means of a strip or strap 48 and rings and 38 are similarly connected by a strip or strap 49. The ring 43 to which the straps 41, 42 are fixed is also connected to 'a back strap 50 which passes along the rear portion of the back of the animal and has attached to or formed in one piece with it a crupper 51 which passes under and around the tail of the animal. This back strap has attached to it near its junction with the ring 43a pair of strips or straps 52, 53, and, near its point of attachment toor where it merges into' the crupper, a further pair of strips -or straps 54, 55, the straps 52 and54 on the one side being attached at their lower ends to a ring or loop 56 and the straps 53 and on the other side to a ring or'loop 57 .1

Rings 56, 57, have liked to them straps 58,

59. which support and through which pass the traces 46, 47, respectively, and these rings are also connected by means of the straps 60,61 to the rings '44,45,to which the traces are attached and through the medium of which the tractive power is applied.

If desired,'or if it is necessary that the vehicle in connection with which-the harness is used should be backed a further strapjor breeching, such as is shown"infdotted'lines at 62 in Figs. 1 and 2, could'be utilized.

This attached atone end to the ring 56 and pass around the buttocks of the animal being secured at the other side to the 5-7; Strips or straps '63, 64 fixed to able the harness to be adapted for use with.

different sizes of animals or to compensate for stretch in the straps. If, however, the

mal it will be understood that-provision for adjustment would not be necessary.v Single straps could ofcourse be usedand made adjustable, or, as before mentioned, chains or other flexible connections either bare or suitably sheathed or incased' might take the place or the straps. n r I Therings 37, 38, 43, 44,45,56, and 57'are each'connected through the medium of one or more of the various strapswith a suitable pador piece 65', 66, 67, 68, 69, and

harness is niade to suit any particular ani- F 71, respectively, "which is positioned beneath q the rings and serves to prevent contact of the rings, 'an'd'the various strapsat their theaninial. i

72'is1a pad or piece fixed beneath the junction of the straps 50, 54 and-55 to prevent chafing ottlreanimals back.

i To'unharness the'animal it is only necessary,' after uncoupling the traces from the 'swinglebar, to unhook r ngs'13, and 14 from the liooks 15,-16 and rings 31, 32 from the hooks 28, 29 when the harness can be lifted oll the'animal. It will-be evident that the harness hereinpoints of fixing thereto, with the body of #3 beforedescribed can be modified with "a very slight addition 'to suit single harness conditions," the only'a dditionalpart necessary'being a back piece or saddle as is ordinarily used for carrying or taking the weight of the shafts otthe .vehicleyand to which said shafts are suitably connected. A suitable saddle for heavy work which is generally used in connection with two-wheeled vehicles will be described in connection with Fig. 30f the drawings.

On reference to the drawings it will be clearly understood that the tractive effort or power of the animal is applied to the traces '46, 47 through the medium ofthe rings 44, '45; all'the' power which the animal is able to eXert in a forward direction being transmitted by and through that-"part -of the body which is embraced by the neck 'straps 11,-12, chest strap 25 and side straps 34, 36,.

39, 40, 48"- and 49 to the traces 46, 47, through said rings 44 and 45. t i j In themodification of the inventionillusand'ichain asshown;

be? denoted-by the s'amet tnumerals 'asin the gdescription fof; i the type;- of the a invention illustratedr in Figs l and'i 2. I

,5 In this-formof harness: I pre'fer to pro-' mideztwo-astraps :or pieces 1,r1;instead-;of' the one! used 1 in-rj i the previously: :described construction, the straps 11,"?12'i1beil1g connected withastraps .1. I I v wMemberj; :17, chestfistrapz-25wpad' 26" and :member: 2'Eare': constructed :and'iarranged in identically atheexsametmannersas before described. I

either sideof'the vehicle. :The straps in this case are fconnected" to *chainsf "Tat their. one end, "the links ofi thechainsf'allow ing' of ad'- justment ofrthe lengthrof'the combined strap I The idr afthOOks 'Zare' attached} to the said-i'hooks r pass iserving as: -keepthemforwardly directed.

Cha'ins are substituted for the "strips or st-raps 48,":49, and 'the 37,1 38', instead of being carried by' theforwa'rd 1 side straps 39, 40, and rear si-de s'traips 41;42; :arecarried by the -forward- Sid straps 39, 40, (which are attached 'to the rings 9"":o'n strap 1" and further straps '76 attached by means ofrings' Wtoand depending-from a saddle or the like '78 "of ordinary construct-ion which serves-to support the- 'shafts' '23 ofthe vehi'clep'b f'The saddle 78, is, as 'usua1, constructed with an arcuate channel or 'groove 7 9 which serves to accommodate fthe chain or the like to which "the shafts {23*"are connected through the-medium of the slidable 1 hookshaped members81- which 'are slidably' attached to' the rod or mein-bers "82- fixed to the shafts"23 in' the=-known manner. 83' are i 56 eye-piecesfiitedito the channel' member of the s'addlethrough the medium of pieces 84, which 'eye pieces serve as guides forthe reins. A rfurther eye-piece'or" loop 85 is arranged "atthe back ofthe'saddle to which is attached a back strap or its equivalent 86 which at itsother 'end 'is connected to the strap 50 and newes -51.

87 are rings equivalent to rings 56 and 57; the chain equivalent of straps 60, 61 being attached to said rings 87 at one end and to the rods or members 82 on the shafts 23 at the other end through the medium of hooks 88. Straps 52, 53 are dispensed with the breeching piece 62 being adjustably attached, as shown, to the straps 54, 5 5 by the straps 63, ea, 'Qhe breeching in this case is shownwell up across the buttocks so as to allow the animal ,tO: exert a: maximum amount :of:

power when backingga loaded vehicle.

-What 1 I claim as my invention: and desire to protectbygLe-tters Patent-is:{. p p A harness for draft animals comprising neck portions adapted to bear against the sides ofthe lower topyportionof the neckfof an animal forward of thewithers and extend along the sides of the neck to the forward part of the chest, a chest and vunderbody strap secured to the lower part of said neck portion and adapted toextend be tween the forelegs and under the ,body,means adapted to receive connections from (the vechicle and means interconnecting the receiving means, the rear portion of said chest and underbody strap,:and the upper part of said neck portion.

2. A harness for: draft animals compris ing neck. portions adapted to bearv against the-sides ofthe lower topportion of the neck 20f an animal forward of. the withers 'and'extendalong' the sides of the neck to the forward .part of the chest, a chest andiunderbody strap secured to thelowerpartot said-neck portionvandadaptedto extend between the forelegs and under the: body, means adapted 1: to receive connections from the VBhlClQ, *rmeans connecting said receiving meanswith the rear portion of. said chest 1 and underbody' strap, means connecting said receiving means with the upper part of said neck portion, andwmeansconnecting the rear portion of said chestand underbodystrap with an intermediate' portion of the last mentioned means' to effect a lifting'stress on the underbody. 1 r

3. Harness for use with horses and other draft animals including a part'which fits the back of the neck of the animal, straps connected witlrsaid neckpart which pass down opposite sides of the neck, a chest and unde'rbody strap to one end of whichysaid side neck: strapsjar'e connected and which passes down the front-of the animals chest and between its forelegs to beneath its body, draft means for connecting the harness to the traces, straps connecting said draft'means to the other and lower end of I the chest strap, connecting pieces, and straps connecting said connecting pieceswith the neck- "strap, the draft -means and the other a chest and underbody strap to one end of which a said side neck straps are connected and which passes down the front of the animals chest and between the forelegs to ben ath its body, draftmeans for connecting the harness to the traces, adjustable straps connecting said draft means to the other and lower endof the chest and underbody strap, connecting pieces, and adjust able straps connecting: said connecting pieces with the neck strap, the draft means and with the other and lower end of th chest strap. 7 a

5. Harness for use with horses and other draft animals including a part which fits the back of the neck of the animal, straps connected with saidneck part which pass down opposite sides of the neck, a chest strap to one end of which said side neck straps are connected and which passes down the front of the animals chest and between its forelegs to beneath its body, draft means for connecting the harness tothe vehicle, straps connecting said draft means to the other and lower end of the chest strap, con

necting pieces, further straps connecting said connecting pieces with the neck strap, other straps connecting saidconnectingpieces with the draft means and other straps connecting said connectingpieces with the other and lower end of the chest strap, a back strap, straps for connecting said back strap to the connecting pieces, a crupper attached to said back strap, a pair of straps hired to the fore parts of the back strap at one end and passing down opposite sides of the animal,-a further pair of straps fixed to the back portion of said back strap at one end and passing down opposite side of the animal and connected with the first mentioned pair at the other or lower ends, and straps connecting said last mentioned two airs of straps with the draft means.

6. arness for use with horses and other draft animals including a part which fits the back of the neckof the animal, straps connected with said neck part which pass down opposite sides of the neck, a chest strap to one end of which saidside neck straps are connected and which passes down the front of the animals chest and between its forelegsto beneath its body, draft means for connecting the harness to the vehicle, straps connecting said draft means to the other and lower end of the chest strap, connecting pieces, further straps connecting said connecting pieces with the neckstrap,

other straps connecting said connecting pieces with the draft means and other straps connecting said connecting pieces with the other and lower end of the chest strap, a

back strap, straps for connecting said back strap to the connecting pieces, "a crupper attached to said back strap'ya pair of straps fixed to the fore parts ofthe'back strap at one end and passingdownopposite sidesof the animal, a further pair'of straps fixedto the back portion of saidback strap at one end andpass'ing down opposite-side of "the animal and lconnected with the first mentioned pair, at the other or lower, ends, and

straps connecting said last mentioned two pairs of straps with-the draft"means, a breeching piece attached to theother or lower ends of the two pairs of straps and straps connecting thebreeching piece with the last rmentionedxpair' ofstraps intermediate theirivends. 1

7. A harness for? draft animals compris ing a neck portion, a chest and underbody strap secured thereto, and adapted to extend between the forelegs-to beneath the body, traces,'-'means.adapted to. receive said traces, means connecting said receiving means with the rear portion of said chest and underbody strap and with the upper part of saidneck portion, means adapted to extend-from said receiving means over the extreme rear of the animals back, andmeans connecting said latter means with the traces to the rear of the saidr'eceiving means, said parts being so proportionedthat the draft is at all times distribi'ited' on all said parts in contact with the animal;

8. A harness for draftanimals comprising a neck portion, a chest 'and-underbody strap secured thereto'and adapted to extend between the forelegsto beneath the body,

means adapted to. receive connections from a vehicle, means connectmg said receiving means, with the-rear portion of the chest and. underbody strap and with. the upper part ofsaid-neck portion, means adapted to extend fromf said receiving means. over the extreme rear'iof the .animals back, means adapted to extend from-a portion of the connection between the receiving means and the neck portion over-the rear of the animalsback, and means for connecting the rear portions of the last two parts.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 

